Numer One. In Your Face.

I'm a relatively busy man and can't devote much time to the massive college basketball world outside of the sphere of the Big 10....11....12 conference, but I'm going to go on record and say the most noteworthy game of the season took place in Madison, WI this past Saturday (2/12/11).  For those of you that don't know what I'm referencing, the University of Wisconsin's mens basketball team knocked off the previously undefeated (24-0) and number one ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, rallying from fifteen points down in th second half.

Also for those of you that don't know, the Buckeyes have a better basketball team than the Badgers.  Probably a fifteen point better team than the Badgers.  When they put William Buford, Aaron Craft, Jon Diebler, David Lighty and Jared Sullinger on the floor they can score from all five positions.  Four of the five can create their own shots and the other (Diebler) is about to become the Big Ten's most prolific three point shooter.  But in Madison you can spot the number one team in the country fifteen points and they will be lucky to lose by only four.  Under coach Bo Ryan, at the Kohl Center, the Badgers have a staggering record of 149-11, including 75-6 in conference, 75-6 in conference play and 24-7 vs top 25 ranked teams.  Thad Matta and Tom Izzo are 0 for the Kohl Center against Ryan.

Here's a look at the Badgers starting five (from the season opener) in each of Ryan's seasons and the top 25 (ESPN poll) that were felled on Dayton St.

2001-02 (19-13, 11-5)

Starters:  Charlie Wills, Dave Mader, Travon Davis, Kirk Penney, Devin Harris

Top 25 home victims:  #15 Marquette 86-73, #7 Illinois 72-66, #22 Ohio State 94-92 (OT)

2002-03 (24-8, 12-4)

Starters:  Penney, Mike Wilkinson, Mader, Freddie Owens, Harris

Top 25 home victims:  #14 Illinois 60-59

2003-04 (25-7, 12-4)

Starters:  Wilkinson, Mader, Boo Wade, Owens, Harris

Top 25 home victims:  #23 Marquette 63-59

2004-05 (25-9, 11-5)

Starters:  Alando Tucker, Wilkinson, Andreas Helmigk, Clayton Hanson, Kammron Taylor

Top 25 home victims:  #12 Maryland 69-64, # 18 Alabama 76-62, #15 Michigan State 62-59

2005-06 (19-12, 9-7)

Starters:  Jason Chappel, Tucker, Brian Butch, Ray Nixon, Taylor

Top 25 home victims: # 7 Michigan State 82-63, # 24 Indiana 72-54, # 12 Ohio State 78-73

2006-07 (30-6, 13-3)

Starters:  Butch, Tucker, Chappel, Michael Flowers, Taylor

Top 25 home victims:  # 2 Pittsburgh 89-75, # 5 Ohio State 72-69

2007-08  (31-5, 16-2)

Starters:  Marcus Landry, Butch, Greg Stiemsma, Trevon Hughes, Joe Krabbenhoft

Top 25 home victims:  # 11 Indiana 62-49, # 19 Michigan State 57-42

2008-09 (20-13, 10-8)

Starters:  Landry, Keaton Knankivil, Hughes, Jason Bohannon, Krabbenhoft

Top 25 home victims:  # 23 Illinois 63-50, # 24 Ohio State 55-50

2009-10 (24-9, 13-5)

Starters:  Jon Luer, Knankivil, Hughes, Bohannon, Tim Jarmusz

Top 25 home victims:  # 6 Duke 73-69, # 15 Ohio State 65-43, # 4 Purdue 73-66, # 5 Michigan State 67-49

2010-11 (to date 19-5, 9-3)

Starters:  Jarmusz, Josh Gasser, Knankivil, Luer, Jordan Taylor

Top 25 home victims:  # 14 Minnesota 68-60, # 16 Illinois 76-66, # 11 Purdue 66-59, # 1 Ohio State 71-67


So take heart Buckeyes, it happens to the best of them and suffice to say, I'm not looking forward to the rematch in Columbus.  One last word of caution though, Sullinger seems to be a lot more Terence Dials that Greg Oden.

Brett Favre Is A Pimp

Well folks, the Green Bay Packers went ahead and ruined a perfectly good NFL season.  Ok, I take that back.  If anything I'm just pissed at the Bears.  They had two shots to put a bullet in that iconic "G" and both times the gun jammed.  But I'm not really here to reflect on Super Bowl XLV, if like it you already know and if you don't there is no reason to go back down that road.  There will be some reflection, however, hearkening back to a time when Brett Favre and the Dallas Cowboys ruled the NFL.

In the post Super Bowl afterglow much has been made of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers moving out from under the shadow of Favre.  While the two will forever be liked through Favre's seeming endless and overwhelmingly uncomfortable "retirement", it's just as unfair to compare Favre to Rogders as it is to compare Rodgers to Favre.  They are both spectacular quarterbacks that happen to have played for the same franchise in succession, but each is his own entity.  If any one has been validated in relation to Favre it's Packers General Manager Ted Thompson.  In bringing joy to the hearts of Packers fans Rodgers has taken a huge leap towards Favre, but in relation to the impact and legacy Favre has left behind, Rodgers has taken but a baby step.  It is also in the best interest of the Packer fan to let Rodgers be Rodgers and not Favre, because Brett was once a young, brash extrovert, not unlike Rodgers, but when it was all said and done Favre was just a good old fashioned 'vert.

Secondly, as punishment for losing Super Bowl XLV we will reminisce about the Steelers previous Super Bowl failure, Super Bowl XXX.  In a time when the wild and crazy Dallas Cowboys were easily NFL public enemy number one, the nation welcome the thought of the return to glory of the famed "Steel Curtain".  Dallas had destroyed the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII by a combined score of 82-30, but the juggernaut was ripe for the picking in Super Bowl XXX.  Twice in the second half the Steelers were with in six points or fewer of the Cowboys, but Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell couldn't help throwing the ball to Cowboy's cornerback Larry Brown who snared two passes, setting up 14 Cowboys second half points en route to a 27-17 victory.  Maybe if somebody had told then Steelers linebacker Kevin Greene "It's time!" everything would have been different.

Well that's it folks, Abraham's House Of Foolishness has thrown yet another football season in to the trash and not a moment too soon.  Now time to focus on basketball, beer and movies before the boys of summer start rustling around in earnest.

Corn Bowl XLV

Super Bowl XLV, Steelers and Packers?  Seriously?  Could you pick two cornier franchises?  Heck, one team actually plays in a cornfield.  The Packers and Steelers are the go to choices for football fans who don't like the local team or don't have a local team, making them more annoying than previously stated.  A couple things to remember while ESPN washes you with the glory of these two franchises.  Despite being in a professional football organization for seventeen more seasons than the Cleveland Browns the Steelers have won two fewer championships and despite being the NFL's leader with twelve championships the Packers have won just one since 1967.  Since then ten franchises have won at least two championships.  The Packers and Steelers certainly have earned their respective glories, but in typical ESPN/NFL wonk fashion, it's over played.

Well, now that my bitter feelings are out of the way we can take a look at the game which is a very interesting match up with much more pleasant prospects than listening to Steelers fans or looking at Packers fans.  The game is both an endorsement of the 3-4 defense and a barometer of how important running the football is to the modern NFL.

The Steelers and Packers were the league's top two regular season defenses concerning points allowed respectively and feature aggressive line backers and game changing secondaries.  Both teams are stout against the pass, but as the league's best run defense Pittsburgh holds a significant advantage against the rush.  Both teams have overwhelmed opponents this season with blitzing linebackers, so it will be interesting to see how both teams like a taste of their own medicine.

Green Bay caught a huge break when the Steelers pro bowl center Maurkice Pouncy was injured in the AFC championship game.  It's unclear whether or not Pouncy will be able to play in the Super Bowl, but it is clear that either a banged up Pouncy or his back up will be lined up against the Packers DT B.J. Raji, who may be playing the best football of anybody in league over the last six weeks.  If Pittsburgh is to win the game they will have to pound the Packers on the ground with their bulldozing back Rashard Mendenhall, get into the end zone and not give the Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers time to survey the field and find his various explosive receivers.

Green Bay has never trailed a game by more than seven points during this entire season and playoffs, which I find utterly amazing.  They are on a run reminiscent of the 2007 New York Giant that won ten consecutive road games, including three in the playoffs, before knocking off the Super Bowl success laden Patriots.

Official prediction:  Packers 28, Steelers 27

Jay Cutler Is The Best Quarterback In Bears History

That's right.  You heard me.  Jay Cutler is the best quarterback in Bears history.  This really more on an indictment on Bears quarterbacks than an unworldly achievement by Cutler, but the point is, for reactionary Bears fans, Cutler is the best thing to happen to the Bears passing game since the 1940s.  After just two seasons he is already eighth on the franchise's passing yards list and seventh in passing touchdowns.  He has thrown as many touchdowns in two season as Jim Harbaugh threw in seven seasons.  Sid Luckman is the Bears most legendary quarterback, holding the franchise records for passing yards and touchdowns.  In Luckman's first season, 1939, there were ten teams in the NFL, in his last, 1950, there were thirteen.  In Luckman's best season, 1943, there were zero black players in the NFL and in 1947 he threw 31 interceptions in 12 games.  Cutler is 26 years old and has four years of NFL experience, but because he was knocked out of the NFC championship with an MCL sprain game people conveniently forget the abuse he took playing behind one of the NFL's worst offensive lines.  Not to mention quarterbacking the Bears to the NFC championship game despite said line.  People forgot him running over Seattle defenders just one week earlier.  Quit, yeah right.

I'm not going to spend much more time sticking up for Jay, I believe Steve Rosenbloom said it best, Cutler doesn’t care about his image, so why should you?  I also think Lovie Smith hit the nail on the head by telling the media they don't put players on the field that can't defend themselves.  I'd like to see some of these dopes blasting Cutler try to fend off Clay Matthews with out being able to firmly plant one of their legs.  Then we'll see who's tough.

There was plenty of legitimate disappointment regarding the Bears performance against Green Bay, much of it stemming from Cutler's pre-injury performance.  It was pretty disheartening to see third string quarterback Caleb Hanie put together more touchdown drives against Green Bay in about a one and a half quarters than Cutler did in two and a half games.  Here's a quick recap of the Bears post season exploits.

NFC Divisional Round:  Bears 35, Seahawks 24 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  On the Bears first offensive drive of the game they used play action on third and short, fooling Seattle safety Lawyer Milloy.  Tight end Greg Olsen went streaking by, Cutler hit him for a 58 yard touchdown and the rout was on.

Player of the game:  Cutler
The Bears quarterback completed 15 of 28 passes for 274 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.  He also rushed eight times for 43 yards and two scores, becoming the only player other than Otto Graham two throw and run for two scores in a playoff game.

NFC Championship Round:  Packers 21, Bears 14 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  After finally getting on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter and pulling to within 14-7 the Bears faced third and four from deep inside their own territory.  Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers brilliantly dialed up a zone blitz and when the inexperienced Hanie tried to get the ball to Matt Forte short over the middle he never saw B.J. Raji.  The Packers defensive tackle snared the pass and rumbled in to the end zone for an 18 yard score.  The Bears would get in to the end zone less than two minutes later and had the ball in Packers territory inside of the game's final two minutes with a chance to tie, but they would turn the ball over and Raji's score turned out to be the deciding points.

Player of the game:  Greg Jennings
The Packers wide out caught eight passes for 130 yards, including several key grabs that helped the Packers build their early lead.

Going forward it will be hard for the Bears to repeat their 2010-11 success.  The Bears were a very good, well rounded football team and at times very explosive, but they suffered few key injuries and caught their share of breaks along the way.  A bizarre rule saved their bacon in week one, in week eleven they faced Miami's third string quarterback, Detroit's in week thirteen and when they clinched the division in Minneapolis in week thirteen not only did they not face Adrian Peterson, but due to the Metrodome's collapsed roof they didn't have to play in the Vikings true home stadium.

With a possible owner lock out on the horizon, free agency is a relative unknown.  The Bears have 14 unrestricted free agents heading into the 2011 off season, most notably starters C Olin Kruetz, DT Anthony Adams, S Danieal Manning, LB Pisa Tinoisomoa, P Brad Maynard and special teams ace Corey Graham.  I'd like to see Kruetz, Adams and Manning return, but I could take or leave the rest.  I'd also like to see the Bears strengthen the guard position in free agency.  As far a the draft is concerned I'd like for the Bears to look for future starters at wide receiver, cornerback and offensive tackle in the early rounds and reserve linebackers and offensive and defensive tackles in the later rounds.

If you asked me at the beginning of season how I would feel if the Bears won the division and advanced to the NFC title game, I would say I would love it.  Safe to say, despite the disappointing ending, the Chicago Bears 2010-11 season was a great one.

The Holiest Of Holy Wars

You have to believe.  There is no choice.  If you are a Packer fan you have to believe Green Bay is going to win the NFC Championship on Sunday.  If you are a Bears fan you have to believe the Bears are going to win the NFC Championship on Sunday.  There is no choice.  It's too big of a risk to think otherwise

I interact with many Bears and Packers fans and the second the Soldier Field crowd felt the Seahawks were comfortably handled and started the "Green Bay Sucks" chant the excitement and anticipation for the Packers vs. Bears NFC Championship showdown in Chicago was sky high.  And with each passing moment the excitement, anticipation and tension is building.  By Tuesday fans were telling me they were already having trouble sleeping because of the excitement.

There is much to be excited about on both sides.  Most importantly the two greatest rivals in professional sports are playing for a spot in the Super Bowl.  Sunday evening one team's fans will be signing from the mountain tops and the other's will be looking at a decade worth of humiliation.  I one fell swoop one fan base will be given the keys to the Super Bowl, a pair of dancing shoes and a map to the other fan's grave site.

Oh, there also is the matter of what will happen on the field.  If you are a Packer fan reading this you already know how the Packers can win and if you are a Bears fan you don't believe for a second that that is a possibility, so I'm going to focus on how the Bears will win this game.

Even though the Bears beat the Packers in Soldier Field this year and finished ahead of Green Bay for the NFC North division title, public perception once again favors the Packers.  There is reasoning to support this, the Packers have beaten in succession the Giants, Bears, Eagles and thoroughly embarrassed the Falcons.  Combined with the high level of play of star quarterback Aaron Rodgers there is much reason for excitement in cheese land.  Earlier in the season, the slight of Bears bothered me, but the Bears have made a season of doing things they weren't supposed to do and beating teams they weren't supposed to beat, so I'm fine with the Bears being the underdog and I'm sure Lovie Smith is too.  The Bears are also on an impressive run winning eight of their last ten games with wins over the Eagles, Jets and Seahawks.  Being at home should help the Bears, I see this match up as more toe to toe, than a clear advantage for either side.

The key for the Bears when they have the ball will be to run it well and run it often.  The Bears season turned from mediocre to excellent when the coaches started calling more hand offs.  With the Bears athletic guards and mauling tackles, the line is built to run and Bear receivers block down field as well as any group in the league.  Successful runs will help keep the Bears out of predictable passing situations, wear on Green Bay's elite pass rushers and set up play action.  Should the Bears have success running against Green Bay's 3-4, it will be interesting to see if the Packers would go to a 4-4-3 or maybe just play Charles Woodson as a fifth linebacker.

Now the Bears will have to put the ball in the air to win too, so giving Jay Cutler time to find receivers and make good decisions will be crucial.  In this season's match up in Lambeau, the speedy receivers Devin Hester and Johnny Knox were pushed around and a non-factor.  These two are too dynamic for the Bears to let that happen again, they have to find ways to get open. Earl Bennett didn't play in that game, hopefully his presence will help create space for the Bears speedsters.  Having a good play action game going will be big for Greg Olsen, especially if Green Bay has to adjust to stop the run.

Green Bay's offense is coming off an absolute destruction of the Falcon's defense in the Georgia Dome, but the good news for Bears fans is this week the game is outside and the Bears actually have a defense.  In week 16 the Packers put up 45 points, 404 passing yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions on the Giants.  The very next week the Bears held them to 10 points, 229 passing yards, 1 touchdown and picked off Rodgers once.  Getting pressure on Rodgers without blitzing will be the big key for the Bears defense.  Other than bringing nickel back DJ Moore off the edge, the Bears blitz game sucks and the secondary isn't good enough to check the Packers stable of receivers with out help from the front.  Green Bay has struggled to run the ball most of the season, but they feel behind James Starks they now have a new dimension.  This will certainly be put to the test as almost nobody ran well against the Bears second ranked run defense.  Most teams need to use seven or eight defenders to handle a running attack, the Bear can control even good running teams with Julius Peppers, Israel Idodije, Anthony Adams, Matt Toeaina, Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher.  Now the Bears run defense is a full team effort, but those six take a ton of pressure off the secondary.  It will be interesting to see how the Bears handle passes out of the Packers three back wishbone formation that will tempt the safeties to move up.  Turnovers are always a key for any Smith coached defense.  The Bears were third in the league in take aways and while the Packers aren't the most interception prone team, the do fumble, so the Bears will need to make sure the ball is coming out.

The Bears have hands down the best special team unit in the NFL and have for years.  Green Bay better be 110% on any special teams play or the Bears will tip the scales.  Every special teams play, extra points, everything.  A big challenge will be making Green Bay punt from deep inside their own territory forcing the Packers to kick to Hester, or give up field position kicking away from him.

Official prediction:  Several hundred Packer fans being serenaded by tens of thousands of Bears fans.  Run the ball, stop the run.  Bears 22, Packers 20

Seahawk, It's Not A Word.

When I was a kid I was under the assumption that the Buccaneers, Saints and Seahawks would never win the Super Bowl.  Thanks to the bungling of a couple less than choice AFC squads two thirds of this dream has been crushed, but the Milwaukee Brewers of the NFL are keeping hope alive.  Despite winning only seven games in the regular season, the Seahens have not only claimed a playoff spot, but have also knocked of the defending champion New Orleans Saints, shaking the very foundation of the world.  The well rested, second seeded, eleven win Chicago Bears should no problem knocking off a team that shouldn't even be in the playoffs, right?  Uh, well, muh.....suh...

Ok, Ok, calm down, of course the Bears are going to win.  It just will be more annoyingly challenging than necessary.  Not because Seattle is some under valued squad or set to take a magical playoff dream come true, but because there is one big match up issue.  The Bears defensive mind set is keep everything short and make teams execute the length of the field, assuming their will be a mistake (sack, holding or turnover), but veteran Seattle quarterback and his slew of capable receivers are built for methodical, precise execution.  When Seattle beat Chicago in week six Mike Williams torched the Bears for 123 yards on ten catches.

There are some differences in the Bears this time around and, of course, some ways to make sure this doesn't end the Bears season.  The first adjustments will come on offense.  In the first meeting Matt Forte and Chester Taylor combined to run the ball 12 times for 42 yards.  In the Bears final eight games the duo averaged almost 23 carries a game for 91.5 yards a game.  Not only has the commitment to run been improved, but the biggest improvement for the Bears offensive line has been their run blocking on the edges.  Also by earning the bye the team has had an extra week of rest and preparation.  Since the Bears didn't know who their opponent would be until Sunday, they had to start game planning for three different teams, the real value is the Bears had an extra week to scout themselves.  An extra week of prep for offensive coordinator Mike Martz means, the Bears will use their past formation tendencies to set up unpredictable plays, maybe a big end around.

Defensively having linebacker Lance Briggs available will be a boon for the Bears, as he missed first meeting with an ankle injury.  Briggs speed, instincts and tackling are a big reason the Bears can control a team's running game and short passing attack.  Keeping Seattle's backs Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett from gaining traction on the ground will also be key.  The two ground out 111 yards and two touchdowns in the first meeting.  Keeping Seattle to 3 and 7's or longer would be huge, as will getting to the quarterback.  Every team wants to pressure the quarterback, but with an aging, beat up Hasselback at the helm and early battering would keep him physically and mentally uncomfortable in a hostile environment.

Prediction:  Bears 23, Hens 13

2010 Chicago Bears Season Review

What a season is was for your Chicago Bears.  A team that generally was expected to finish behind preseason media darlings Green Bay and Minnesota wound up controlling divisional play and ended up NFC North division champions.  Despite winning eleven games, this team was as unpredictable week to week as any in the NFL.  Yes they usually won, but there was no real calling card.  Some weeks it was a big return from Devin Hester that made the difference, others it was a dominating defensive performance leading the way to victory and some weeks the offense simply lit up the skies.  Bear loses were generally highlighted by poor offensive line play and thrown interceptions.

Week One:  Bears 19, Lions 14 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  Detroit appeared to take the lead inside the game's final minute as quarterback Shaun Hill, subbing for Mathew Stafford whom the Bears knocked out in the first half, appeared to connect with Calvin Johnson on a spectacular leaping touchdown catch, but the ball squirted out of Johnson's hand as he was getting up and the officials ruled he had not completed the process of the catch.  Detroit's final two passes fell incomplete and the Bears walked off the field winners.

Player of the game:  Matt Forte
The Bears starting half back posted 201 total yards (50 rush, 151 receiving) and two receiving touchdowns.

Week Two:  Bears 27, Cowboys 20 @ Dallas

Play of the game:  In the final minute of the first quarter Bears quarterback Jay Cutler hit tight end Greg Olsen for a 39 yard touchdown pass.  The pass traveled less than ten yards, but most of the Cowboy defenders has rushed up field and Olsen out raced the rest to the end zone.  This sparked a quick pass strategy and brilliant Cutler performance that neutralized the Cowboys aggressive blitz that had paralyzed the Bears offense for most of the first quarter.

Player of the game: Cutler
Jay completed 21 of 29 passes for 277 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Week Three:  Bears 20, Packers 17 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  With just over two minutes to go in a tie ball game Bears linebacker Lance Briggs caught Packers receiver James Jones near the sideline and fellow linebacker Brian Urlacher arrived shortly after and knocked the ball out of Jones's hands.  Bears cornerback Tim Jennings recovered ball near midfield as both the ball and Jennings narrowly managed to stay in bounds.  The Bears would use the possession to kick the go ahead field goal with four seconds remaining in the game.

Player of the game:  Hester
The Bears punt returner returned three punts for 93 yards including a 62 yard touchdown.  He also caught one pass for 16 yards.

Week Four:  Giants 17, Bears 3 @ New York

Play of the game:  When the Bears offense returned the second half it was revealed that Cutler had suffered a concussion during the Giants first half nine sack barrage and would not finish the game.

Player of the game: Osi Umenyiora
The Giants defensive end recorded four tackles, three of the Giants ten sacks and forced two fumbles.

Week Five:  Bears 23, Panthers 6 @ Charlotte

Play of the game: Bears defensive end Julius Peppers spectacular pass deflection and interception in the first quarter
set up a Bears field goal and was a microcosm of the Bears defensive dominance.

Player of the game:  Forte
Matt put up 188 total yards (166 rush, 22 receiving) and two rushing touchdowns.

Week Six:  Seahawks 23, Bears 20 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  At the start of the second quarter Seattle converted a third and goal from the nine yard line as running back Justin Forsett bowled over the Bears defense for a score.

Player of the game:  Mike Williams
The Seattle receiver shredded the Bears defense time and time again catching ten passes for 123 yards.

Week Seven:  Redskins 17, Bears 14 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  With the Bears leading 14-10 in the third quarter Cutler tried a quarterback sneak from the one yard line, fumbled and the Bear lost possession.  Replays showed that the ball had broken the plane of the goal line, but Lovie Smith never challenged the call and the Bears never recovered.

Player of the game:  DeAngelo Hall
The Washington cornerback made seven tackles and picked off Cutler four times, returning one for the go ahead score.

Week Eight:  Bye

Week Nine:  Bears 22, Bills 19 @ Toronto

Play of the game:  Jennings fourth quarter interception of Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and 39 yard return set up the Bears go ahead touchdown and two point conversion.  At the time of the pick the Bear trailed the winless Bills 19-14.

Player of the game:  Jennings
The Bears cornerback made nine tackles, assisted two others and changed the game with his interception.

Week Ten:  Bears 27, Vikings 13 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  Half way through the fourth quarter the Bears play action fooled the Vikings on third and one from the the Vikings 19 yard line and Cutler hit a wide open Kellen Davis for a touchdown extending the lead to two possessions.  The pass was the only reception of the season for Davis.

Player of the game:  Briggs
The Bears star linebacker made five tackles and an interception, leading a stalwart defensive effort that held the Vikings to 13 points, forced four turnovers and held Adrian Peterson to 51 rushing yards.

Week Eleven:  Bears 16, Dolphins 0 @ Miami

Play of the game:  Near the end of the third quarter Forte crashed into the end zone from two yards out for the games only touchdown and final points.

Player of the game:  Peppers
The Bears big ticket defensive end recorded five tackles, one assist, three sacks and broke up a pass in the shutout victory.

Week Twelve:  Bears 31, Eagles 26 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  The Eagles held the ball mid way through the second quarter at the Bears four yard line trailing by one when safety Chris Harris recorded the first interception of Eagles quarterback Michael Vick off a pass deflected by defensive tackle Tommie Harris.  The Bears offense marched the ensuing possession into the Eagles end zone shortly before the half expired and never looked back.

Player of the game:  Earl Bennett
The Bears wide out caught four passes for 56 yards and two touchdowns in a game dominated by the Bears speed and aggressiveness.

Week Thirteen:  Bears 24, Lions 20 @ Detroit

Play of the game:  Cutler connected with tight end Brandon Manumaleuna from seven yards out mid way through the fourth quarter to give the Bears the four point difference.

Player of the game:  Urlacher
The face of the franchise registered nine tackles, eight assists and his fourth quarter combination sack with D.J. Moore helped ice the game.

Week Fourteen:  Patriots 36, Bears 7 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  The Bears were already trailing by 27 points when rookie safety Major Wright forgot to stay deeper than the deepest and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady hit Deion Branch for a 59 yard touchdown as the first half expired.  Even if this play is defensed properly the Bears still get blown out, but it really showed how much more prepared the Pats were than the Bears.

Player of the game:  Brady
The New England quarterback completed 27 of 40 passes for 369 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in a driving blizzard.

Week Fifteen:  Bears 40, Vikings 14 @ Minneapolis

Play of the game:  Bears defensive end Corey Wootton's second quarter third down sack of Vikings quarterback Brett Favre near midfield knocked the legendary quarterback out of the game and possibly ended his career.

Player of the game:  Hester
Devin caught two passes for 23 yards and a touchdown, but more importantly contributed 146 kick/punt return yards on three returns including one score.  Hester broke Brian Mitchell's record for kick/punt return touchdowns with his 14th career score.  This number does not include his missed field goal return against the Giants in 2006 or his opening kick off return of Super Bowl XLI.

Week Sixteen:  Bears 38, Jets 34 @ Chicago

Play of the game:  On the Jets opening possession of the second half they tried to convert a fourth and two near midfield with a fake punt using quarterback Matt Sanchez as the punter's personal protector, but the Bears were not fooled.  Wide out and special teamer Rashied Davis sniffed out the play and harassed intended receiver Brad Smith enough to force an incompletion.  The very next play Cutler hit Johnny Knox for a 40 yard touchdown to tie the game and start the victory momentum.

Player of the game:  Cutler
The Bears quarterback completed 13 of 25 passes for 215 yards, three touchdowns and one interception against a defense that ranked sixth in the league in pass defense.  He also ran for a touchdown.

Week Seventeen:  Packers 10, Bears 3 @ Green Bay

Play of the game:  Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit receiver Greg Jennings for 46 yards to the Bears one yard line on a play that expertly victimized the principles of the Bears very effected cover two defense.  The Packers would convert for the game's only touchdown and deciding score.

Player of the game:  Charles Woodson
The Packers star defender made five tackles, one assist, one sack and broke up three passes leading a terrorizing defensive charge.

Top Three Bears Games Of 2010

3. Week Twelve:  Bears 31, Eagles 26 @ Chicago

This game marked the Bears first test against an elite team after the half way point of the season and the Bears showed up aces.  A late touchdown pass from Vick to Brent Celek made the final score closer than the play on the field.  The Bears out ran and out willed the Eagles in all phases of the game and announced to the league they were a serious playoff threat.

2.  Week Three:  Bears 20, Packers 17 @ Chicago 

The Bears validated their surprising week two victory in Dallas by knocking off the Packers in week three.  The Bears took advantage of the Packers sloppy play and shocked the league on Monday night.  It sent a message to Green Bay that the Bears were indeed a good team and anything that sends a Packers fan home unhappy is good by me.

1.  Week Fifteen:  Bears 40, Vikings 14 @ Minneapolis

It is almost impossible to have a season where the Bears beat Green Bay and not have it be my top game of the season, but there was so much good in this one game.  Plus the Vikings are like the Packers ugly girlfriend.  In the same game the Bears won the division title,  Hester broke the returns record, the Vikings learned that playing outdoors is the right thing to do and Favre's career was ended.  Not even beating the Packers can top that.

Bear Of 2010:  MLB Brian Urlacher
There were more serious candidates than usual for this, but after spending 2009 going 7-9 with out Urlacher, 2010's 11-5 record showed how much he means to this team.  The addition of Peppers was huge as were resurgent years from Hester and Forte, a more responsible Cutler and the contributions of coaching additions Mike Martz and Mike Tice, but Urlacher is the engine that drives the Bears.  His ability to control the middle of the field is the main reason the Bears defense is so tough and opportunistic.